Liquid-feed tank



.Patented Aug. l3, 1929.

Uhll'ltl STS l me.

JOHN ALLEN HEANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTCUT, k.ASSSCJTOEt T0 HEANY LABORA- A TORIES, INC., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CGRPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

LIeUInrnnn frank. y

Application led November 19, 1923. Serial No. 675,715.

rlhis invention relates to liquid feed tanks for use on automotive vehicles or internal vfuel to the carburetor of thel engine at an approximately constant pressure.

The invention, Iin general, consists in certain improvements in the specific construction of vacuum tanks, particularly in the connection between the vacuum control valve and the float within the `vacuum chamber; in the provision of means between the vacuum chamber and the storage chamber of the tank whereby sediment is readily deposited in the vacuum chamber and easily removed and air1 bubbles forming in the storage chamber are readily removed out of the interior of the tank; in providing a cup unit in the storage tank which makes possible maintaining the valve between the storage and vacuum chambers constantly submerged, and in certain other mechanical features which permit ease of accessibility to the interior mechanism of the feed tank as well as ready assembly and small cost of other undesirable matter may be readily agglomerated and removed. It is an object also to utilize in a tank construction means for maintaining the valve communication with the vacuum and storage chambers of the feed tank in a constant liquid bath. Another object of the invention is to provide lair communicating ports in the vacuum chamber which are operative without the use of valves.

Another important object is the provision of means whereby a single bolt element holds the whole tank structure together as a unit. It is still another object to provide a structure whereby the internal mechanism of the tank may be readily inspected and removed.

Other objects will become apparent from a consideration of the embodiment of the invention hereinbelow described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l shows the. liquid feed tank in position upon an automobile with the interconnecting pipe lines and main tank;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the unit showing the internal mechanism and vacuum and storage chambers; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the mechanism taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The invention is illustrated as applied to an automobile, having a main fuel tank B, situated in the rear of the frame and a pipe line C, connecting the main tank with the feed tank A. The feed tank A. is situated at a point above the carburetor D of the engine E to which fuel is fed through the pipe line F. The fuel feeds to the carburetor from the feed tank by gravity flow as will be apparent from the description following, the feed tank including a vacuum connection whereby liquid is drawn from the main tank B to a storage tank within the feed tank as Will be hereinafter fully described. This vacuum means is comprised in a pipe connection (not shown) between the intake manifold H of the engine and the top of thefeed tank A.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is disclosed a fuel feed tank A, formed in two chambers 10 and 11. The chamber 10 is the vacuum chamber and is enclosed in a cylindrical casing 12, having a cap 13 with a downturned annular flange 14 surrounding the upper edge of the casing 12 and separated therefrom by a gasket 15. ln the top plate 13 is formedv the intake port 16, connecting through the conduit C to the main tank B. As illustrated, the port 16 extends into the interior of the chamber 10 and is closed at the inner end by plate 17, there being an opening 18 into the tank interior, serving to deflect the entering liquid and to prevent direct impact upon the float, Las will be apparent from'subsequent descriptions. In the cover plate 13 there is also formed a small port 19 of small capacity which permits atmospheric air to pass into the interior of the vacuum chamber at a rate determined by dimensions of the port.

VThe base of the casing 12 rests upon the second unit 20, comprising the storage cham ber 21 and the sediment chamber 22. These two chambers are separated from each other by means of a partition plate 23, which, as indicated by the drawing, is inclined to the horizontal at such an angle as will prevent the trapping of air bubbles beneath the partition and facilitate the removal of sediment from the top thereof. The unit 2O is formed in the sha-pe of a bowl, having a side wall 24 and a base 25, the upper end of the bowl carrying a ledge 26 and annular liange 27 in the angle between which the casing 12 is positioned. A gasket 28 separates the base of the casing 12 and the ledge 2,6. In the wall 241 of the unit 20, immediately above the plate 23 at its lowermost point, is formed an opening 29, adapted to receive a plug 30, through which opening sedimentary deposits formed within the vacuum chamber may readily be removed. In the base of the nnit- 20, connecting with the storage chamber 21, is an outlet port 31 adapted to have connection with the conduit F leading to the carburetor D. Centrally positioned as by screw-threads within the base of the unit 20 is a cup member 32. This cup member has upwardly extending walls within the storage chamber 21 and the base thereof is dished to a central low point through which an aperture 3a is formed adapted normally to be closed by a plug 35. By means of this aperture deposits within the cup may readily be removed and access to various working parts of the tank within the storage chamber may also be had. The unit 20 is connected to the vacuum chamber 10 and to the top plate 13 thereof by means of a tube 40, screw-threaded in an aperture formed centrally of the inclined partition plate 23 and connected to the top plate 13 through a central aperture having an inclined wall l1 adapted to cooperatively engage the inclined wall of a head piece l2 integral with the top f the tube as disclosed in Figure 2. From this construction it is apparent that when the tube l0 is screwed into the plate 23, the head of the tube l2 forces itself downwardly Vagainst the top of the plate 13 thereby bindannular plate or disc contained and mov able within a shell i6 fitted over the base of the tube and slotted vertically as at 47 so that when the plate is in the position as shown, liquid can readily pass from the tube into the storage chamber but when positioned up against the base of the tube 40, communication is closed between said chambers. It is apparent from a consideration of the drawing that the valve is at the point near the base of the cup 32 so that when the same is filled with liquid, the valve is completely submerged. o

The suction control valve'50 is positioned in the top of the tube 40. This valve is formed in a bushing 51, which is hollowed axially, a portion 52 of said hollowed axis being enlarged to receive the movable valve element 53. The top of this hollow portion 52 is formed as a valve seat 54, the central portion of which communicates by a conduit to the intake manifold H, hereinbefore indicated. Adapted to engage valve seat 54e and close communication through the conduit 55 to the intake manifold is a cooperating valve member 56, positioned on top of valve stem 57 and movable within the in terior of the valve chamber 52. rllhere is provided a guide disc 58 within the chamber 52 and also additional guide and stop discs 59 and 60, all of which serve to keep the valve in proper alignment with the valve seat 54e. Downward movement of the valve 50 is limited by the screw 61 entering into the interior of the tube 40 and against which the valve plate is adapted to make Contact at the limit of its downward movement.

Means for controlling the movement of the valve 50 in accordance with the depth of the liquid within the vacuum tank is provided for in a float 63, which is formed of a cylindrical sheet metal casing having a cen tral vertical aperture and surrounding and movable upon the support tubing 40. To the top of this float is lixed an S5-shaped standard 64E, terminating in a guide loop 65. Conforming in shape with this standard and extending through the loop 65 at the upper end thereof is a resilient flexible strip 66, connected in any suitable manner to a rigid plate 67, having terminal prongs 68 partially enclosing the valve stem 53 in between the guide plates 59 and 60. For this purpose the tube 40 is slotted for a considerable distance within the vacuum chamber as indicated at 69 so that plate 67 may havev axial movement within the chamber and, moreover prevent rotation of the float with its attached standard about the tube 40. lt is pointed out that the strip 66 is not attached to the standard except at, its base 70 so that the same has free movement, limit-ed only by the resiliency of the material forming the strip and by the.` dimensions of the loop 65, thus providing for the pronounced jar and impressed movement forced upon the mechanism in automotive vehicles and the like. It may be readily understood from the above description that the pronged terminals 68 of the strip 66 have free movement axially along the valve stem 53'intermediate the stops 59 and 60 so that should the valve be set in a given position and there be a force tending to maintain the valve in that position, the valve will not be disturbed until by movement of the liquid within the vacuum tank, the prongs 68 come in contact with one or the other of the plates 59 and 60 and thus cause action of the valve.

Further means of entry into the tube Ll() from the vacuum tank by which communication is made to the storage tank 2l is provided in the ports 7l, a plurality of which are disclosed in the drawing at a point adjacent the partition plate 23. Means for maintaining t-he storage chamber at atmospheric pressure is provided for in an upstanding outward pipe 80 which is preferably formed integral with a bracket 8l, by means of which attachment is made to the engine support. The upper terminal of the pipe 8O is just below the cover plate 13 and adjacent the top edge of the casing, the said plate 1 3 being extended as at 82 to form a cover having dependent flanges 83 extending below the top of the pipe 80 so that protection is thus offered to the outlet 84 from ingress of small foreign particles or other matter which might be injurious to the operation of the tank or the carbureter to which the fuel is fed. The pipe 80 has no valves or obstructions, being constantly open to atmosphere and due to the slope of the intervening plate 23 between the supply or storage chamber ll and the suction chamber 10 air bubbles formed in the interior of the supply chamber will travel along the partition 23 until they reach the outlet pipe 8O when they escape to the atmosphere. It is apparent from this construction that the fuel in the supply chamber 11 is constantly under atmospheric pressure and that, therefore, fuel feeds down to the carbureter, or to any other point at which use is made of the fluid in the tank under pressure of gravity.

Emphasis should be laid upon certain important aspects of the invention as described hereinabove. In the lirst place, note should be made of the simplicity of construction wherein a single bolt l0 holds all the supe portable units together, including the supply chamber 11, the vacuum chamber 10 and the cap 13. Unscrewing of this bolt releases the whole structure which may be taken apart, cleaned or repaired as necessity may arise, and very readily reassembled by the reinsertion of the bolt. A second important feature resides in the cup arrangement in the base of the supply chamber 11 wherein the inlet valve 45 is constantly immersedv in a fluid bath, thus insuring constant efhciency of operation and a minimum of leakage. A further important feature resides in the flexible connection between the float 63 and the valve operating plate 67 which allows adjustment between the valve and the float due to loose construction or jar movement and also, in the case of oscillation or jar when the automobile is in motion, permits a small amount of movement of the float in the liquid of the tank without operating the valve controlling the suction. Moreover, by this arrangement the length of travel of the float 63 may be determined independently of the extent of travel of the valve, the

amount of free play of the plate 67 being determined by the loop atthe top of the plate support. Note has already been made of the employment of an inclined plate 23 separating the vacuum chamber 10 and supply chamber 11, which prevents the accumulation of air `bubbles inthe chamber 11, and also of thefutilization of an outlet pipe incorporated with the holding bracket of the tank 8l, thesefeatures adding value and utility to the whole construction.

While I have shown and described a single embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that various changes may be made, all coming within the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired to claim the invention broadly as Well as specifically, as indicated by the claims hereto appended.

VHaving thus described the invention, 4what is claimed is:

l. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a supply chamber; and a partition plate between said chambers said plate being inclined to the horizontal.

2. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a supply chamber, a partition plate between said chambers said plate being inclined to horizontal and an outlet pipe connected to the supply chamber at a point adjacent the highest point of the inclined partition plate, said pipe being open to the atmosphere. Y

3. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a supply chamber, a partition plate between said chambers said platebeing inclined to horizontal, an'outlet pipe connected to the supply chamber at a point adjacent the highest point of the inclined partition plate, said pipe being open to the atmosphere, and means for protecting the outlet of said pipe.

l. In a liquid feed tank, a vacuum chamber; a supply chamber; a suction conduit leading from without said tank through said vacuum chamber and into said supply chamber, said conduit having swivel engagement with said vacuum chamber and threaded engagement with said supply chamberwhereby said chambers are held together and said conduit having an opening into said vacuum chamber; a valve in the end of said conduit adapted to be closed by the suction therein; and means to control the suction in said conduit.

5. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a storage chamber, a conduit extendingwithin said chamber, a valve positioned within said conduit, a cupped member enclosing said valve, the base of said cupped member being inclined toward a common point and an outlet plug at said common point.

6. In a liquid feed tank, a vacuum cham ber unit; a supply chamber unit; a conduit extending completely through said vacuum chamber unit and into said supply chamber unit whereby said -units are held together; said conduit having an opening in the side thereof within said vacuum chamber unit; a check valve in each end of said conduit both opening toward said supply chamber unit, and means to control' the check valve in the outer end of said conduit.

7. In a liquid feed tank; a supply chamber; a cylinder open at both ends and adapted to seat upon the top of said supply chamber; a cover plate for the top of said cylinder; and means to hold said cover plate, cylinder and supply chamber together comprising a single conduit adapted to engage the top of said supply chamber and said cover plate and having swivel engagement with one and threaded engagement with the other and communicating with both the intcrior of said cylinder and said supply chamber.

8. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a suctionconduit in said chamber, a valve within the conduit, a l

liquid level float within said chamber and a single flexible resilient connection between the iioat and valve.

9. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a suction conduit within said chamber, a valve within the conduit, a liquid level float within the chamber, a flexible resilient connection between the float and the valve and rigid supporting means for said connection, said supporting means being adapted to limit the outward movement of the resilient connection.

l0. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a supply chamber positioned below said vacuum chamber, a conduit extending through said vacuum cham- 'ber and into said supply chamber, a valve positioned at the base of said conduit within said supply chamber, a cupped receptacle within the supply chamber enclosing the valve,`the lip of the cup being positioned above the plane of the valve, a second valve in the top of said conduit, controlling means for said second valve, and a resilient connection between said second valve and said controlling means, said second valve having a limited sliding movement relative to said resilient connection and means to limit said sliding movement of the valve.

1l. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber unit, a supply chamber unit structurally independent of said vacuum unit and single means for assembling said units.

l2. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber unit, a supply cham ber unit structurally independent of said vacuum unit, and single means for assembling said units, said means forming a passageway for liquid in between said units.

13. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a suction conduit in said chamber, a valve within the conduit, a liquid level float within said chamber and a flexible resilient connection between the float and valve, said connection being formed of a single strip of resilient metal one end of which is affixed to the float and the other end of which terminates in a bifurcated member adapted to engage said valve.

14. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber unit, valvular float operating means for controlling the inflow of liquids into said vacuum chamber unit, a supply chamber unit structurally independent of said vacuum unit and single means for assembling said units, said means forming a passageway for liquid'in between said units.

l5. In a liquid feed tank, the combination of a vacuum chamber unit, a supply chamber unit structurally independent of said vacuum unit and single means for assembling said units, said means having swivel engagement with one unit, and threaded engagement with the other.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature.

JOHN ALLEN I-IEANY. 

